Offbeat

Nebraska dog dials 911 on owner's smartphone

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — When emergency dispatchers in Nebraska's Sarpy County picked up a recent call, all they heard were the sounds of breathing and scratching.

Dispatchers were worried — until they learned the noises were coming from a dog who dialed 911.

Sarpy County 911 Assistant Director Marilyn Gable tells Omaha television station KETV (http://bit.ly/1m6BSWd) that it's the first time a dog has called the emergency center.

The dog's owner, Melissa Acosta, says she thought her 2-pound Japanese Chin, Sophie, was trying to curl up next to her on the couch, when she realized Sophie was scratching at Acosta's smartphone with her paw.

Then Acosta heard a voice from the phone asking for an "address of the emergency."

Acosta says the whole thing is "a little embarrassing." Sophie, of course, had no comment.